I Still feel like a world champion, and if I have this number it's because there's a reason

Compared to last year halfway through the season many things have changed for the reigning World MotoGP Champion. Nicky Hayden has gone from leading the top category in 2006 preparing for one of his most important challenges of the season Ð the American GP where the only result possible was a win Ð to 10th in the riders' classification, 128 points behind the leader Casey Stoner. In spite of this, Hayden is not a rider that gives in easily, and he is going to tackle the GP on his home soil eager to repeat the victory that he has got in the last couple of seasons. He will not have things all his own way; the rider from Kentucky is aware of this.

The start of the season as World MotoGP Champion has not been easy, although it seems that your situation is improving, is there finally light at the end of the tunnel?
Of course my situation has improved a lot. Third position is not the same as a victory, but obviously it has been fun to be out in front again and simply enjoying the ride. I must thank my team, everybody in the Repsol Honda Team, because I know that it has been quite a frustrating start to the season for all of us, above all if you have been fighting to be World MotoGP Champion. We have changed some things on the bike so as to get better sensations and the boys are working really hard to help do my best. So I hope that from now on I can be with the best every week.

Where is the secret or secrets that have allowed you to be competitive again in the last few races?
The training sessions in Barcelona helped me a lot. Changing many things on the bike, small things, but I also tried a new chassis out and that helped me get better sensations on the bike. I was able to ride a lot, and I think it was nothing more than that, being able to ride in the way I like. I simply feel much more comfortable on the bike now, more confident and enjoying the ride.

Can make some comments about the new chassis?
The geometry is the same, but what has changed is the flexibility. It is true that the chassis seems to help a little, but I think that we have made more progress on all the other adjustments. Obviously we have to work hard because we know that we have not got the results we wanted, but I am dying to see what Honda is going to do, because I am sure that they will not accept losing. They make the best bikes in the world.

Your home GP is next up and you have the number 1 on your bike, but you are having a difficult season with just one podium finish so far. Do you think that in spite of the bad start to the season you will be the favourite to win the American GP?
No, I would not say that this year I am the favourite. I have not won a race this year. Racing on home soil sure helped me out in the first year becaue nobody else knew the track as well as I did. But now everybody knows it and the advantage I had is not so important. I know that there will be a lot fans supporting me I am dying to see if I can win again.

A lap of Laguna Seca with Nicky Hayden
Nicky Hayden is preparing for the most important date of the year for him, on home soil in front of his compatriots. The Repsol Honda Team rider recalls what it is like to do a lap of Laguna Seca.

Nicky Hayden returns to the circuit of Laguna Seca this weekend to race another American GP. On a track where the rider from Kentucky is almost unbeatable Ð two victories in the two MotoGP races - Hayden reveals some of the secrets of Laguna Seca. But as always the Repsol rider has some aces up his sleeve for the race that he is more than optimistic about.

Home straight
"It is called the Home straight but it is not really straight in fact it is slightly curved and it takes you to the most frightening zone in MotoGP. It is definitively the strangest..."

Curve 1
"This curve has an adverse camber and you are in 5th gear. The front wheel wants to lift off the ground and there is one moment when both tyres want to leave the ground, and they do so, so you just have to wait for it to stabilise during the downwards slope and then you accelerate again."

Curve 2
"You have to drop down to 2nd gear. You have to take it fast - almost too fast Ð and then take the bike to the inside, controlling it and lowering the power as much as possible."

Curve 3
"You have to be careful here above all on the 1st lap and make sure that the front tyre is hot. This is a flat curve and you cannot gain much time here; you just have to take it well and get ready for the next one."

Curve 4
"This is a really fast curve, faster than it looks, and it is quite important because it opens out into a straight."

Fonte: Nickyhayden.com

[Modificato da =juicy= 16/07/2007 21.57]

Grazie mille dell'articolo Ste, è anche parecchio "commestibile"

grazie dell'articolo!

Grazie per l'articolo Stef!Cmq è vero si capisce bene.

Tencs Steff, ai andersten olso mi.

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Scritto da: gejko 17/07/2007 13.41
Tencs Steff, ai andersten olso mi.

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many thanks woman!

grazie Steff

grazie mille steff per l'articolo, anche io l'ho trovato semplice da capire!